Six of us, from all parts of the country, visit each other in Chicago once a year. We go out of our way to eat at this unassuming culinary bit of excellence. We're anything but regulars to this place, yet she remembers each of us, like we're her precocious kids. "Let's see Coffee for you four and black tea for you two weirdos, Irish Benedict for you, 2x2x2x2..." Is she guessing, I dont know, but she make me feel like she knows me and cared about. This gem is the polar opposite of a creative, avant guard, posh restaurant, which we also love to go to. Instead, this place is a down-to earth 'warm sweater' sort of a restaurant. There's no caviar or truffles here. Instead, if you like a classic breakfasts, like you ate when you were a child, put on your way-back shoes; and try this place. They make their own corned beef hash and serve it in a myriad of variations. I prefer the 2+2+2+2. Two tender golden pancakes, two eggs basted, two strips of bacon and two sausages. I dont like the sausages but offer them to the others and woof they're gone. Is this a fancy place with 'ambiance', ummm... no. Are my eggs basted, by ladling hot bacon grease over them, like how my mother made them; no - that would be too much to ask. My Mom used to make corned beef and cabbage for dinner the night before, then make corned beef hash the next morning. Again, too much to ask, but this is as close to those paradigms as I'll ever dream of getting. Thank you Mimi! read more

Our hostess and server, Mimi was so sweet and full of joy. I had the vegan hashbrowns and my husband had the Western omelette with an English muffin and hashbrowns. This place is really tiny, tables only, no booths. The food was not anything special and we would not return. They are really a 3-star place but I bumped it up a star for Mimi's kind service. The menu really does not offer foods for those of different dietary wants/needs. read more

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This is a hidden gem! It feels like a little mom's kitchen--nothing fancy, but it's incredibly clean and welcoming. The prices are very reasonable, and the food is absolutely delicious. Mimi, who works there, is exceptionally kind and wonderful. Her friendly service makes the experience even better. They don't offer fancy coffee drinks, but that's perfectly okay--I just stop for my coffee before coming here. The great food, warm atmosphere, and excellent service are what keep me coming back. I highly recommend giving this place a try! read more

Gotta love the couple that owns this place- they are great! The food is always good! They make all of my special requests. Small and simple inside- inviting to sit with friends and chat. read more

Prairie Cafe is well worth checking out! As we walked in, Mimi greeted us like family and it just got better from there. The pancakes were light and tasty and the bacon savory and plentiful. Mimi's warm smile and attention to detail along with great food make this spot a must visit. read more

Cute Little Cafe Food was served quickly & served hot. Waitress was very polite & nice, until you asked her a question she found offensive, like. "What kind of coffee is this?" Them she got very loud & direct. Made the couple who asked turn bright red read more

Prairie Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

Just awesome!!! Best service in a long time, she could teach a master class!!!! Food was tasty and fast!!! Cute ambience you feel like you are at a hidden gem in an old quaint town. Love this place!!! Great prices too!!!! read more

Prairie Cafe - Back in the hidden dining room - Cafes Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

This place is not handicapped accessible. I cannot speak for the food. This is only about the accessibility because we couldn't get in due to the sidewalk being blocked by outdoor tables and posts. The spaces were too narrow for a wheelchair or walker. The handicapped spaces were also not near the ramp. read more

Amazing local diner with consistent high quality items, outstanding service, in a neighborhood atmosphere. Support local!!!

Excellent cafe! This was an amazing find. We ordered a bacon egg cheese sandwich, eggs over easy, hash browns and fruit. Not only was the breakfast delicious, the staff/owner was very kind and friendly. We highly recommend! read more

Amazing service at this breakfast cafe by the Prairie Path. Mimi is one in a million! Delicious menu. Fast, friendly service. Outdoor seating is perfect for pets too! Best brunch spot in Elmhurst! read more

Prairie Cafe - Bon Appetit - Cafes Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

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This was a new restaurant for my friend and I, and we will definitely go back. It's a breakfast lunch place and the food was terrific. Not only that but the service was really great, very friendly very helpful and very attentive. I would highly recommend it for anyone who lives in Elmhurst or like us who had to be there for a doctors appointment and needs a good place to go for breakfast or lunch. Very inexpensive and a good place to go. read more

Home made soups daily- Mimi was delightful server.I ordered the navy bean soup of the day and Chicken salad on toasted rye both were delicious! The soup was hot- the chicken salad ingredients were diced and easy to eat- service could not have been better.. very welcoming homey place - we will be back read more

The food was absolutely delicious! The chicken was perfectly cooked and the tortilla was buttery. I would recommend this because of how nice the owners and workers are. It is very retrospective in the lighting and everything else. read more

Incredibly homey and delicious food. While at the bank across the way I saw the sign and decided I would stop in for lunch and so glad I did. Parking was plentiful and I was greeted promptly. For being 1pm the restaurant had quite a few people and they all seemed to know each other. I got the vibe this is a joint that has a lot of regulars. I ordered the half American sandwich with chicken noodle soup. I barely waited for my meal and it was delicious. I felt it was a great value for the price. The waitress was so pleasant and nice. Some of the other patrons were calling her by name "Mimi". If I lived in the area I'd be a regular too but for now, just when I'm in the area. read more

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I'm sure they have a good menu--there were several enthusiastic tables when I stopped by--but I came in to get some deli meat since they sell Boar's Head and that's my favorite brand. They have a small selection, which is fine; I don't need the plethora of choices that a larger place might have. It's a little more expensive than if you were to go or a larger store, but convenience could be worth it. Service was friendly... the only problem is that it took a while for the order to be filled. Something like 25-30 minutes. She brought us water, so that was nice, and I realize it's a working restaurant too and I'm pretty sure the chef is the one who was slicing everything up. But next time I might call in an order and come pick it up, rather than come in and order on the spot for pickup. I didn't have anywhere to be so it wasn't too big a deal this time, but I would not want to wait a half hour for 3-5 deli items on the regular. read more

Excellent breakfast. Service was great. We were just disappointed that we have lived in Elmhurst as long as we have and this was our first time eating there. We will definitely be going back. read more

Got to doctor appointment in Elmhurst too early so looked for a breakfast restaurant in the area. Found Prairie Cafe. Not a chain so food is cooked exactly as you want it. Hostess is friendly and keeps coffee coming read more

Prairie Cafe - Denver omelette with English muffin and not crispy hash browns - Cafes Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

This family run business is clearly loved by its regulars! My husband and I recently yelped this place after finding our fave breakfast spot (which is in Elmhurst) had a 45 minute wait. The female owner is very kind and appreciative of her customers. The cafe is cute and comfortable. I wanted to like the cafe food more than I did because I would give these owners 5 stars for service and love; however, the food was nothing special. It was good. Just nothing that I could not make at home. I would still definitely recommend this place. read more

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I will say my friend and I were very hungry and we ate without delay but the food was just ok. Waitress was kind, service was a little slow as she was the only one serving. Effort was made, ok experience. read more

Ordered two sandwiches for pick-up. Food was delicious and plentiful. Order was done quicker than expected. Staff was super nice. Great location where you don't have to go into the busy downtown area. We walked there from home. read more

Man I got Itis! Lol Thats great thing Tha ITIS For my fellow yelpers who don't know, thats urban English for feeling tired after a great, hearty meal. This place has a great Mom and Pop feel to it. Mimi and George you guys rock! FORGET IHOP! This place kills the competition for all ya breakfast needs. If you're in the area, check them out ASAP! Service was Great. They only have one bad review on yelp. Hell, remember Air Jordan shot an air ball once, haha! read more

Cheerful atmosphere Amazing service Great food and portions Mimi greats the customers by name. A true joy to watch someone who loves their work so much. We'll definitely be back! read more

Decent food at very reasonable prices. Service was outstanding. Made me feel very welcome. Nothing real fancy but would definitely come back when in area. read more

Love this little, local gem! The owners Mimi and George are fantastic! Give it a try. You won't be disappointed!

Amazing spot we found while in town for the day. Mimi was our server and I thought for sure she must own the place due to her level of work ethic and dedication to customer satisfaction!! Food was amazing and coffee was fresh, hot and never less than half a cup!! Wish we lived closer!! read more

Prairie Cafe - a plate of french toast and sausages - Cafes Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

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Mom and I fondly call Prairie Cafe, Mimi's. The food is always good, but we especially come for Mimi's exquisite hospitality. This last visit, we celebrated Jean's (my mom) 102 birthday. read more

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Just love this little place. Food is delicious, prepared quickly by owner, George and his wife, Mimi, is always smiling and cheerful. Their coffee is the BEST!! read more

We were staying at a local hotel, and noted the cafe was close, with good reviews. They get another from me. The staff was very nice and welcoming. Our meals were great. The sausage links were some of the best I've had at a breakfast place. My only pet peeve? I don't like my coffee served with a spoon already in the cup. But that's nothing really. We would definitely go back if visiting in the area again. read more

We stopped in for breakfast and was greatly surprised. It's a small place but you are treated like family rather than just a customer. The food is good. ad the prices are reasonable. Especially for people on a fixed income. The hospitality shown to you by the waitress is over the top. She is not happy if you are not happy. She does her best so that you are pleased. If she thinks you are not happy or your coffee cup is empty, she is apologizing to you. This is the first time I have had such a wonderful experience like this. What a delight it was to eat there, and my wife and I will be back. It was like dining with family as she only wanted to please the customer. Not only that it seemed every one there was enjoying their experience. Do yourself a favor, if you want to experience good food and a friendly atmosphere that won't break the bank...EAT HERE! Thank You Mimi for your dedication to making this breakfast a very SPECIAL TIME FOR ME AND MY WIFE! See you again soon read more

The service here is top notch and the food is just as good. You will not find a better brunch place for the prices they offer. The only reason I didn't give it a 5* review is because of how much pork they have on display and in your face. I, like many, do not eat pork and am extremely weary of contaminating my food with pork products. Most people who are Vegan or only eat kosher would be turned off by this place. read more

Prairie Cafe - The Irish Benedict is on point - Cafes Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

Came here on Father's Day and did not have to wait. From the time we ordered it took 50 minutes - we checked to see if our food was ready and they hadn't even started making it! we did not get any sort of apology or notice when we sat down that it would take that long. they seem to care more about take out orders than the paying people sitting inside . Very disappointed with this place read more

Love this little hidden gem in Elmhurst. I highly recommend them for breakfast. Delish read more

Great food and service. I ordered a 3 eggs fresh veg omelet. It had the traditional diner taste to it. I would definitely come back to try other things on their menu. read more

Prairie Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

In my opinion, the reviews of this restaurant are overstated. The food is just marginal. My friend and I both ordered a Denver omelet with fruit and a pancake. The omelet was very chewy. It was a flat omelet (tri-folded), not fluffy. For some odd reason, the pancake was also very tough and chewy. Trust me, it wasn't just my meal, my friend had the same experience. Based on the food alone, I would give this place only three stars. However, the server was super friendly. In addition, this is by far the cheapest breakfast (of this type) that you can buy in town. If you are on a budget, and hell-bent on eating breakfast out, this might be your best choice. My breakfast (Denver omelet, fruit, and a pancake) was only $7.25 including tax. I challenge you to find a better deal for this breakfast. As of this writing there are ninety-six restaurants in Elmhurst. I plan on eating at, and reviewing, every one. Follow me on Yelp! Updated 5/26/15 - I found a cheaper breakfast. The Wildflower Cafe at Elmhurst Hospital, and it's better. Moved this one down to three stars, even though they were super friendly. read more

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Stopped in for lunch at this little place in a suburb of Chicago. It has a small town feel. Plenty of parking, no wait for a table, and the service is really good. The food was good. He sandwich was made the same way I might make it. Pretty much the same ingredients, meats and condiments. We tried their "Famous" Chicken Salad sandwich and it was good. I also had the Italian Sub sandwich with a side of fries and that was very good. Their Chicken Soup is excellent. Really cool spot. read more

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I lived in Elmhurst for four years. One day early on I was looking for a place to eat and decided to eat here. Oh my! I'm glad I did. It's a nice small cafe and the staff are some of the nicest people I've ever met. They are so friendly and the sandwiches and soups are amazing! I no longer live in Illinois but would love to try this place again. If I could give this place 10+ stars I would. read more

Prairie Cafe is our Stand by choice for morning breakfast. The food is excellent and the service is top notch. A very friendly gathering place. read more

I actually picked this place via Yelp based upon location and reviews. I needed a good midway point for a breakfast network meeting. Have you used Yelp like this before? If not, highly recommend it. The place itself was the perfect venue for my purpose. There were some retiree crowd in there, as well, as some mom networks with kids in tow. I went for the two by two by two by two which basically means I ordered two eggs, two bacon, two sausage and two pancakes. Technically you could order this and split it with someone if you wanted to, I recommend doing so. The prices were middle of the road and the service was friendly. read more

This lil hidden gem is a must if your a breakfast fan !! Our server was outstanding, order a short order of crapes with the blueberries on the side, the bowl was completely full of fresh blueberries. The coffee was hot and tasty. Very quick service. Will definitely be visiting again read more

Prairie Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois